NATO says it is 'adjusting' mission in Iraq after report of withdrawal of personnel

A woman carrying a child walks past an armoured vehicle as Turkish army and security personnel search a field after a piece of ammunition fell following the interception of a missile launched from Iran by a NATO air defence system, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Sertac Kayar

BRUSSELS, March ⁠20 (Reuters) - NATO said it ⁠was "adjusting" the posture of its ‌mission in Iraq, in response to a media report that the alliance ​had started to withdraw ⁠personnel from ⁠the country due to the military conflicts ⁠in ‌the Middle East.

"We can confirm that we ⁠are adjusting our posture in the ​context ‌of NATO Mission Iraq. We ⁠are ​working in close coordination with Allies and partners," NATO spokesperson ⁠Allison Hart said in ​an email to Reuters.

"The safety and security of our personnel is ⁠paramount, which is why we will refrain from providing additional details about this matter. ​NATO and Iraq’s ⁠political dialogue and practical cooperation, ​including through NATO ‌Mission Iraq, will continue," ​she added.

(Reporting by Andrew Gray;Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)